Frequently asked questions
1. What is a professional organizer?
As defined by the Professional Organizers in Canada (POC), an association for professional organizers, a Professional Organizer is an individual who creates customized solutions to help others get organized. They help their clients find balance, restore order and maximize their resources. They provide ideas, information, structure, solutions and systems, which increase productivity, reduce stress and lead to more control over individual resources.
2. Why would I hire a professional organizer?
Most people who choose to hire professional organizers do so because they have decided to make time and space for themselves. For some people the trigger is a pile of magazines falling over for the 6th time for others it’s having to say to a there’s just no time for coffee. Hiring a professional organizer means taking charge and choosing to create a haven for yourself.
3. How do I know what I need?
Most often people don't know exactly what they need, and that is fine. Most organizers, initially, will go into your home or office for what is often called an assessment meeting where they will ask to see the space you want to re-organize or de-clutter and work with you through a set of questions. The important thing is to know that the stress and guilt that comes with the challenge can and will go away.
4. What if the organizer forces me to throw things out?
If the organizer ever wants to work again she won’t. In any organization project you’re the boss and remember that. The organizer is someone coming in to help you with some tough decisions about things and where they belong, but the final word needs to always be yours. In the end the organizer wants to help you reduce your stress not create more of it. If the object you are keeping causes you no grief, no stress, and no feelings of guilt, there won’t be any reason for the organizer to want to toss it.
5. How long can a room or office take?
Every organization session is different as is takes into account variables such as the size and content of the room, budget constraints, number of interruptions. On average, a bedroom can take between 6-10 hours to de-clutter and re-organize. For rooms such as attics, basements, storage rooms you can safely double that.
6. How much will this type of work cost me?
The short answer is that it will cost you less than what you are paying to store all the things in your house or office that fall into the category of clutter. Prices usually vary between 40 and 110 dollars per hour. The higher rates are usually for larger commercial jobs or jobs requiring a lot of travel time.
7. What should I do to prepare for the first visit by an organizer?
Nothing! An organizer needs to see you and the space you are looking to work on in its natural state. She will also need to walk through the area and ask you what you do in that room. Cleaning it up or saying half-truths about the room's use will only continue to delay your having that wonderful haven you seek.